Cutter chain for mining machines



March 1933- E. w. RADIUS 1,902,420

CUTTER CHAIN FOR MINING MACHINES Filed Feb. 28, 1931 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD W. RADIUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, 01 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CUTTER CHAIN FOR MINING MACHINES Application filed February 26, 1931. Serial No. 518,418.

This invention relates to improvements in cutter chains for mining machines and has among other objects to provide a simple and durable construction 0 cutter chain block having a removable cutter bit economical to manufacture and of small size which may be quickly removed and thrown away when dull, and having a simplified, rugged, posltive means for securing said bit in the block.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of the chain block with the bit in place therein and with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the cutter chain showing it in position in a cutter head of a mining machine;

Figure 3 is a artial sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the means for securing the bit in position in the block; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cutter chain block.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures.

In the drawing I have shown a cutter chain for mining machines. This chain is made up of a series of chain blocks 10, 10 pivotally connected together by a series of straps 11, 11. This chain is an endless chain and rides in a groove about a cutter bar and cutter head and passes about and is driven from a sprocket. This groove is provided at the top and bottom with guideways 12, 12 (see Fig. 2) in which restraining lips, 13 on the blocks and 14 on the straps, are retained. The cutter chain is made up of a series of chain blocks extending in various angles with respect to the cutter head as shown in Figure 2. For the purpose of illustration of my device, I have shown in detail one of such chain blocks having its cutter bit centrally located, that is to say perpendicular to the grooved cutter head, but it will be understood that the same features of construction are used in the other chain blocks having varying angles of inclination to said cutter head.

.face 18, which face extends downwardly in a rearward direction for a portion of the depth of the block and forms a recess for receiving a bit securing member.

The bit securing member comprises a removable forward part 19 of the block 10, arranged in alignment with the body portion 15 and forming a continuation and forward face for the block 10. This bit securing member has an upwardly extending projection 20 adapted to fit in the bit receiving slot 16. 70

This upwardly extending projection 20 has an inner face parallel to the face of the bit receiving slot 16 in the body portion 15 and is adapted to engage the forward portion of the bit 17. The removable part 19 is also pro- 75 vided with an inclined plane face 21 adapted to abut the rearwardly and downwardly inclined face 18 of the body ortion 15 of the block 10 and the lower sur ace of the bit 17. A recess 22 and aperture 23 are provided in the detachable forward part 19 of the block 10 for receiving the head of a bolt 24 and allowing said bolt to pass therethrough. The bolt 24 passes through the body portion 15 of the block 10 and has a nut 25 threaded on its opposite end and engageable with the rearward face of the body portion 15 of the block 10 for holding the detachable forward part 19 to said block and clamping the bit 17 in the forward inclined bit receiving slot 16.

The bit 17 is formed from flat stock of rectangular shape having opposite ends sharpened as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1. It may be seen that such a bit is easy and economical to manufacture since the manufacturing operation simply consists in the cutting off of the stock at an angle and sharpening the ends. It also may be seen that the size of the bit, as compared with the ordinary bit, is such that it is economical to throw-away the bit when both cutting ed s are dull. When the bit 17 is inserted in t e bit receiving slot 16 and the projection 20 and face 21 engage the forward and lower side of said bit, the detachable forward part 19 serves as a means for holding said bit in said slot when the nut 25 is tightened against the rearward face of the body portion 15 of the block 10.

It may thus be seen that a simple means has been provided for holding a small bit, economical to manufacture, in a cutter chain block and that this means is so arranged that the pressure exerted in holding the bit in the block is exerted against the body portion of the cutter chain block which is of a heavy construction capable of withstanding the extraordinary percussive stresses which the ordinary cutter chain block is subjected to during the cutting operation. With this arrangement it is possible to provide a positive means for holding a bit in a cutter chain block more durable and stronger than is usual due to the fact that the pressure, due to clamping the bit in the bit receiving slot and exerted on the bit during the cutting operation, is taken by the solid body portion of the block.

It may also be seen that the means for tightening the bit is to the rear of the block which arrangement lessens the liability of stripping of threads on the bit tightening means. Moreover, the percussive forces during the cutting operation are exerted on the removable forward part of the block and transmitted to the more solid body portion and this removable part may readily be renewed in case of wear. This block is also so arranged as to eliminate sticking of the bit in the block since the removable forward part may be readily removed to provide accessibility to the bit and to provide a means for cleaning dirt from the bit receiving slot and cutter chain block.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction or arrangement of parts herein shown and described, excepting as specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a cutter chain block for mining machines, a body portion having a bit receiving slot therein opening to the forward end thereof, said body portion having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined face, a bit insertable in said bit receiving slot, and means for securing said bit in said bit receiving slot comprising a removable forward part arranged in alignment with said body portion having an upwardly extending projection adapted to fit in said slot and engage the forward face of said bit and having an inclined plane surface adapted to abut said rearwardl and downwardly inclined face of said bo y portion and adapted to engage the under portion of said bit and force said bit against said body portion and the forwardly facing face of said slot.

2. In combination with a cutter chain block for mining machines, a body portion having a bit receiving slot therein opening to the forward end thereof, said body portion having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined face, a bit insertable in said bit receiving slot, and means for securing said bit in said bit receiving slot comprising a removable forward part arranged in alignment with said body portion having an upwardly extending projection adapted to fit in said slot and engage the forward face of said bit and having an inclined plane surface adapted to abut said rearwardly and downwardly inclined face of said body portion and adapted to engage the under portion of said bit and force said bit against said body portion and the forwardly facing face of said slot, and clamping means for clamping said removable forward part to said body portion comprising a bolt extending through said detachable forward part and block.

3. In combination with a cutter chain block for mining machines, a body portion having a bit receiving slot therein opening to the forward end thereof, said body portion having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined face, a bit insertable in said bit receiving slot, and means for securing said bit in said bit receiving slot comprising a removable forward part arranged in alignment with said body portion having an upwardly extending projection adapted to fit in said slot and engage the forward face of said bit and having an inclined plane surface adapted to abut said rearwardly and downwardly 1nclined face of said body portion and adapted to engage the under portion of said bit and force said bit against said body portion and the forwardly facing face of said slot, and clamping means for clamping said removable forward part to said body portion comprising a bolt extending through said removable forward part and block having a head engageable with a recess in the forward side of said removable forward part and having a nut engageable with the rearward side of said body portion.

4.' In combination with a cutter chain block in said bit receiving slot and engage the forward side of said bit and having an inclined plane surface adapted to abut said rearwardly and downwardly inclined face of said body portion and adapted to engage the under por tion of said bit and force said bit against said body portion and the forwardly facing face of said slot.

5. In combination with a cutter chain block for mining machines, a body portion having a forwardly inclined bit receiving slot therein opening to the forward end thereof, said body portion having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined face forming a rearwardly extending recess opening to the forward end thereof, a bit having opposite sharpened ends insertable in said bit receiving slot, and means for securing said bit in said bit receiving slot comprising a removable forward part arranged in alignment with said body portion and insertable in said recess having anlupwardly extending projection adapted to fit in said bit receiving slot and engage the forward side of said bit and having an inclined plane surface adapted to abut said rearwardly and downwardly inclined face of said body portion and adapted to engage the under portion of said bit and force said bit against said body portion and the forwardly facing face of said slot, and clamping means for clamping said removable forward part to said body portion comprising a bolt extending through said removable forward part and block.

6. In combination with a cutter chain block for mining machines, a body portion having a bit receiving slot therein opening to the forward end thereof, said body portion having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined face, a bit insertable in said bit receiving slot, and means for securin said bit in said bit receiving slot comprising a removable forward part arranged in alignment with said body portion having an upwardly extending projection adapted to fit in said slot and engage the forward face of said bit and having an inclined plane surface adapted to abut said rearwardly and downwardly inclined face of said body portion and adapted to engage the under portion of said bit and force said'bit against said body portion and the forwardly facing face of said slot, and clamping means for clamping said removable forward part to said body portion comprising a bolt extending through saidmemovable forward part and block havin a head engageable with a recess in the orward side of said removable forward part and having a nut engageable with the rearward side of said body portion.

7. A cutter chain block for mining ma chines having a body portion, a bit of rectangular cross-section having its longest surfaces adapted to lie in planes parallel to the path of travel of said cutter chain block,

a bit receiving slot in said bodyi portion adapted to engage the sides and rearward end of said bit, said bit receiving slot opening toward the forward end of said body portion and being of longer dimensions than the sides of said bit, and means for securing said bit in said bit receiving slot comprising a forward part arranged in alignment with said body portion having an upwardly extending projection adapted to engage the forward side of said bit and an inclined plane surface adapted to engage the underside of said bit.

8. A cutter chain block for mining machines having a body portion, a bit of rectangular cross-section having its longest surfaces adapted to lie in planes parallel to the path of travel of said cutter chain block, a bit receiving slot in said body portion adapt ed to engage the sides and rearward end of said bit, said bit receiving slot opening toward the forward end of said body portion and being of longer dimensions than the sides of said bit, and means for securing said bit in said bit receiving slot comprising a forward part arranged in alignment with said body portion having an upwardly extending projection adapted to engage the forward side of said bit and an inclined plane surface adapted to engage the underside of said bit, and clamping means comprising a bolt extending through said detachable forward part and block.

9. In combination with a cutter chain block for mining machines, a body portion, a bit of rectangular cross-section having its longest surfaces adapted to lie in planes parallel to the path of travel of said cutter chain block, a bit receiving slot in said body portion adapted to engage the sides and rearward end of said bit, said bit receiving slot opening toward the forward end of said body portion and being of longer dimensions than the sides of said bit, and means for securing said bit in said bit receiving slot comprising a forward part arranged in alignment with said body ortion having an upwardly extending pro ection adapted to engage the forward side of said bit and an inclined plane surface adapted to engage the underside of said bit having a head engageable with a recess in the forward side of said detachable forward part and having a nut engageable with the rearward side of said body portion.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 24th day of Feb ruary, 1931.

EDWARD W. RADIUS. 

